Effect of Smoking on Body Weight: Longitudinal Analysis of the SUN Cohort

Abstract

Introduction and objectives. Our aim was to investigate prospectively the association between two major cardiovascular risk factors: smoking and weight gain.Methods. We prospectively evaluated 7565 individuals taking part in a dynamic cohort study over a median follow-up period of 50 months. Self-reported weight and physical activity levels had been validated previously. The adjusted mean difference in weight gain relative to neversmokers (the reference group) was estimated for different levels of tobacco exposure.Results. After adjusting for age, baseline body mass index, sedentary lifestyle, changes in physical activity level, total energy intake, fiber intake, food consumption between meals, and sugary soft drink, fast food and alcohol consumption, it was found that individuals who stopped smoking during follow-up had a greater relative weight gain: men 1.63 kg (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.19 kg), and women 1.51 kg (95% CI, 1.11-1.91 kg). In addition, active smokers had a greater weight gain than never-smokers: men 0.49 kg (95% CI, 0.11-0.87 kg), and women 0.36 kg (95% CI, 0.07-0.65 kg).Conclusions. Individuals who stopped smoking during follow-up and active smokers both experienced significantly greater weight gains than never-smokers. This association between cardiovascular risk factors should be taken into account when developing prevention programs. Evolución de los cambios en el peso corporal según hábito tabáquico: análisis longitudinal de la cohorte SUN Introducción y objetivos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar prospectivamente la asociación de dos factores de riesgo cardiovascular, el hábito tabáquico y la ganancia de peso.Métodos. Se evaluó prospectivamente a 7.565 participantes de una cohorte dinámica durante una mediana de seguimiento de 50 meses. El peso y la actividad física declarados fueron validados previamente. Como referencia se usó a los nunca fumadores, calculándose diferencias ajustadas de ganancia media de peso para diferentes exposiciones al tabaco.Resultados. Tras ajustar por edad, índice de masa corporal inicial, sedentarismo, cambios de actividad fí-sica, ingesta energética y de fibra, comidas entre horas, consumo de refrescos, de comida rápida y de alcohol, los participantes que dejaron de fumar durante el seguimiento, presentaron una mayor ganancia relativa de peso: hombres +1,63 kg (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 1,07 a 2,19); mujeres +1,51 kg (IC 95%, 1,11 a 1,91). Los fumadores activos presentaron también mayor ganancia de peso que los nunca fumadores: hombres +0,49 kg (IC del 95%, 0,11 a 0,87); mujeres +0,36 kg (IC del 95%, 0,07 a 0,65).Conclusiones. Los participantes que dejaron de fumar durante el seguimiento y los fumadores activos experimentaron mayores ganancias de peso que los nunca fumadores. La asociación de estos dos factores de riesgo cardiovascular debe ser tenida en cuenta en los programas de prevención.

Dietary factors, epigenetic modifications and obesity outcomes: Progresses and perspectives

“…showing that recent ex-smokers and active smokers both experienced significantly greater weight gains than never-smokers (Basterra-Gortari et al, 2010). In this sense, exposure to cigarette smoke condensate induces changes in histone modifications in epithelial cells and immortalized bronchial epithelial cells (Liu et al, 2010), suggesting that epigenetics could play a role in smoking-cessation-induced weight gain.…”

Longitudinal changes in weight in relation to smoking cessation in participants of the EPIC-PANACEA study

“…Since the fear of gaining weight might be an important barrier to quit smoking, a better understanding of this complex relationship is needed. Recent longitudinal studies indicated that the excess weight gain following smoking cessation is probably transient and tends to occur shortly after cessation (Reas et al, 2009;Basterra-Gortari et al, 2010) but large scale studies are required to confirm these findings.…”

Smoking Cessation and Subsequent Weight Change

“…Only a small number of studies have examined weight change among quitters in relation to never-smokers, with conflicting results. Some indicate that quitters do not gain significantly more weight than never-smokers in the long term (Reas et al, 2009;Travier et al, 2012), while others suggest that quitters gain significantly more weight than never-smokers (Basterra-Gortari et al, 2010;Flegal et al, 1995).…”

“…The existing longitudinal research has a number of important weaknesses, including the inability to control adequately for baseline BMI (Owen-Smith & Hannaford, 1999;Reas et al, Advance Access publication January 24, 2014 nicotine & tobacco research, Volume 16, number 6 (June 2014) 867-871 2009), and reliance on self-reported or retrospective reports of weight (Basterra-Gortari et al, 2010;Flegal et al, 1995;Owen-Smith & Hannaford, 1999;Reas et al, 2009;Travier et al, 2012) or smoking status (Flegal et al, 1995;Williamson et al, 1991). Some findings may have limited generalizability to the general population of smokers since cohorts were drawn from health service users (Owen-Smith & Hannaford, 1999;Travier et al, 2012) or university graduates (Basterra-Gortari et al, 2010), hence the need for further research (Fernández & Chapman, 2012).…”

“…Some findings may have limited generalizability to the general population of smokers since cohorts were drawn from health service users (Owen-Smith & Hannaford, 1999;Travier et al, 2012) or university graduates (Basterra-Gortari et al, 2010), hence the need for further research (Fernández & Chapman, 2012).…”